Massager and exerciser



Feb. 19, 1929.

W. BECHMANN MASSAGER AND EXERCISER Filed Jan. 15, 1926 Lu; 6 7 LL O I":

, the form il Patented Feb. 19, 1929;

UNITED STATES-1 55mm OFFICE. 1

nnqnreum, or rnILAnsrrH-m, rmsrnwmmq IAQSAG'EZB AND EXIMIQER'.

Application Med. January 15, 19. Serial No. 81.436.

The principal object of this invention, is to provide a novel and highly eficient. and durable massage and exercising device so formed asv to be capable of applicati n by the user to practically any part of the-body;

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the attached: drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is ageneral view, of the device;

Fig. 2 isan enlargedfragmentary tongi: V tudinal section illustrating structural details of the device; I v

Fig. 3 is a section through one of" the handles illustrating the method of detachably securingthis. handle to the flexible cable;

Fig. l is a detached perspective of the han- Mounted on this cable are a plurality of elements 2 preferably spherical in form and with smooth surfaces, and these elements are mounted on the'cable by passing the latter through diametrical passages 3 through said elements. Preferably these passages 3 are made larger in cross sectional area than the cross sectional area of the cable 1.

Also mounted on the cable is a plurality of relatively small elements 4 which are interset', with the larger elements 2 so as to space these larger elements apart. I have found that a very desirable effect can be obtained by interposing two of these small elements v4 between each of the larger elements 2, althou h there is no limit to the mannerin which t ese elements maybe relatively arranged, nor in their relative sizes, and the invention extends to the use of elements of only onesize as illustrated in Fi 5.

The smaller e ements 4 are strung on the cable in the resent instance in the same manner as the e ements .2, and the 'assages 5 in these smaller elements, throu Y which the cable 1 extends, are preferably arger in cross sectional area than the cross sectionalarea of the cable. 7.

It will be noted by reference to Fig. 2 that V the elements 2 and4 are so formed as to pro vide between each contacting pair of elements of both large and small elements.

to the drawings, the device in" what in effect is; ball and socket joint. In I i the present instance each of the larger elements2. is socketed for reception of the cons .t-acting spherical elements 4, and-in-eaoh of the contacting pairs of smaller elements, one

is provided with a socket for reception of 3 the abutting face of the other. As stated above, it is preferred to form the passages in both large and small elements through which the cable- 'extends larger" in cross sectional area than the cable, and the purpose of this is to afford a maximum flexibility in the device; It will be understood,;ho.wever, that it is" not necessary in orderto obtain the required flexibility to so enlargethepassagos In the present illustrated embodiment for example, in which two of the smaller elements are interposed between each adjacent pair of large elements, a degree of flexibility is obtainable by merely enlarging the passages of the two I smaller elements or by the enlargement of the passage of but one element. I accordingly do not wish to limit myself in this reillustrated.

I further do not wish to limit myself to the use of different sized elements, and as shown in Fig. 4, I may employ elements of one size preferably socketed, as illustrated and as previously described. I'have found, however, that more desirable results can be obtained by spacing the actual massage elements apart so that there is an appreciable distance between these elements, since-in that; way I obtain a maximum massage effect. Although the use of thesmall spherical elements 4 is desirable, various other methods may be 'empl'o ed, without departure. from the invention, or obtaining the desired spac-f ing of the massage elements. 1

Although not essential, I preferably pro vide at each end of the cable a handle grip'element 6 secured to the cable in any suitable manner, although preferably at least one of these elements iseasily detachable-from the cable to provide means for maintaining a constant close contact between the elements thereon. In Figure 3, I have illustrated one such method of attaching a handle element consisting of a slot? in which the end of the cable is frictionally held. This fastening means also comprises acpassage 9, centrally located in the handle, through which the cable passes, an annular recess 11 being provide'd'in thelouter surface of the handle at 80 spect to the particular embodiment hereinji the inner end of the slot 7 in which the cable, after passing through the passage 9 and back through the slot, is wound twice around the handle, thereafter again being passed into the slot '7 where it is held by friction.

If any serious play develops between the elements on the cable due to wear or for other reasons, the cable may be loosened from the handle suflicientlv to permit the latter being forced in against the massage elements so as to bring them into close contact, after which the cable maybe again fastened in the handle.

It will be noted in the illustration that between each of the handles and the adjacent large element 2, I provide three of the smaller elements l, this being preferred as affording ample room between the handle and the adj acent large elements for the fingers. Also in the present instance the inner sides of the handle are socketed to receive the outermost of the small elements 4, thereby atl'ording with the socketed arrangement of the adjacent elements a completely articulated and highly flexible device.

In using the device, the operator may take hold of the opposite ends and pass the elements rapidly over all parts of his body,

either giving the device a reciprocatory 1ongitudinal movement or a reciprocatory transverse movemnt. In this latter case, the elements, if not too tightly held together upon the cable, may rotate around the cable as an axis. The device is also capable of withstanding very heavy strains, and for that reason may beused as an exerciser to the advan= tage of the user.

other. 1

l/VILLIAM BECHMANN. I 

